Improvement in piano-forte actions



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FREDERICK MATHUSHEK, 0E NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 113,074, dated March 28, 1871.

IMPROVEMENT IN PIANO-FORTE ACTIONS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making pari: of the lame.

Tov all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK Mnrnusnnrc, of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Piano-Fortes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawing making a part of this speciiication and to the letters and igures of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawing is a sectional view of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the key-lever, removed.

My invention has relation to an improvement in piano-lbrtes; and

It consists in giving to that end of the key-lever to which the jack is attached an inclination with reference to the plane of the finger-board, whereby the action is adapted to the strings when their plane is inclined to the perpendicular.

In the drawing- The letter A designates that portion of the frame to which the keys are attached;

B represents the fulcrum; and

O, the cushion-block, at the forward end cf the keyframe A.

The rear end of this frame is made sloping or inclined, as shown at D, to correspond with the inclination of the end ofthe key-lever.

E represents the key-lever, extending rearward from the finger-end in a straight line to a short distance beyond the fulcrum B, and then turning downward in an inclined direction to its rear end.

Sometimes the key-lever may be inclined upward from the point a, but the downward inclination is preferred.

F represents a cushion, placed at the foot of the slope D, to receive the concussion'of the rear end of y the key-lever when the finger-end is relieved from pressure.

G represents the jack, attached to the inclined portion of the key-lever;

H represents the hammer-cushion; and

K, the friction-pad, also attached to the inclined portion of the key-lever, near the head of the slope D.

L represents the hammer, and

N the damper-lever.`

The latter is operated by the toe` of the key-lever thrcugh the medium of the slide-rod R.

The bent keyflever and the consequent arrangement of the attendant devices which constitute the action are especially adapted to serve an important purpose in upright pianos having the inclined scale.

".Vhat l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is`

The bent key-lever E, substantially as speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

`Witnessesz FR. MATHUSHEK.

FRANK B. CURTIS, JcHN M. Hyun. 

